The Big Story 

The Biden administration has proposed to limit environmental reviews for power line upgrades, solar farms and energy storage — part of an effort to deploy more renewables. 

© AP Photo/Julio Cortez

It is proposing to make upgrades to power lines eligible for simpler environmental reviews and would also allow for larger solar energy projects to qualify.

In a late Wednesday press release, the Energy Department said it is proposing the changes “to promote the development of clean energy and supporting infrastructure.”

It also described the move as cutting costs and delays and said in a  Federal Register notice that the move is also expected to reduce planet-warming emissions. 

Elise Caplan, vice president of regulatory affairs with the American Council on Renewable Energy, described the rule as “one of many steps in the right direction.”

“This step alone may not be a huge difference, but it is a very positive step, and it’s part of that pathway to exploring these kind of helpful opportunities that regulatory agencies can take in the absence of any legislation,” said Caplan, whose group represents the renewables industry. 

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Essential Reads 

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

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Gila River Indian Community partners with Army Engineers on solar-covered canal project

Autoworkers ratify deal with GM after tight vote

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

It’s the first El Niño winter in 5 years. What will be different?

El Niño is back with a vengeance. After years of back to back La Niña, this winter will be the first in five years with an El Niño pattern in place. The last time we saw El Niño was in the winter of 2018 to 2019, and even that year’s El Niño was substantially weaker than the one we’re seeing now.

What We’re Reading 

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

• Only 51 of these U.S. whales remain. Little has been done to prevent their extinction (NPR)

   

• “Do Your Job.” How the Railroad Industry Intimidates Employees Into Putting Speed Before Safety (ProPublica)

What Others are Reading 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Trump claims New York fraud trial imploded with Cohen’s testimony

Former President Trump pointed to the testimony of his former fixer and personal attorney, Michael Cohen, as the catalyst to the supposed “implosion” of the civil fraud case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D). Read more

Greene calls GOP colleague a p‑‑‑‑

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) called fellow GOP Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.) a p‑‑‑‑ Tuesday after he attacked her for lacking the “maturity and experience” to understand the proper way to bring an impeachment vote against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Read more